What to expect at Dolphins’ camp.
The Miami Dolphins open training camp at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at their facility in Davie. The practice is open to the public, and many of those in attendance will be wondering whether this team, which went 6-10 last year, can defy public opinion, including those of Las Vegas oddsmakers, and have a winning season.
Coach Adam Gase thinks they’re on their way.
“We’re gelling pretty good,” Gase said last month, after the final practice of offseason workouts. “They like to practice against each other, they like playing together. You can tell there’s a lot of energy out there. I think that’s really one of the things that’s going to be an improvement for us. We kind of lost that a little bit last year.
“This year we’re looking like we’re headed in the right direction.”
Dolphins rookies reported for training camp a week ago, while veterans reported Wednesday.
Initially, all eyes will be on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who sustained a season-ending injury to his left knee on Aug. 3, just days into last year’s training camp. He must prove he can get through camp healthy.
Tannehill, who had a 100.1 passer rating in the final eight games he played in 2016 before sustaining a knee injury that December, received positive reviews during offseason workouts. He completed the program without incident and is expected to be full speed in training camp with no limitations.
Tannehill didn’t wear a brace on his left knee during organized team activities and minicamp. It’s believed he’ll occasionally wear a brace during training camp.
The Dolphins can’t wear pads or have full-contact practice until Sunday at the earliest because the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement prevents teams from wearing pads before the fourth day of training camp.
Miami, which earned a playoff berth in 2016 in Gase’s first season, seemed to make progress toward one of its primary goals during offseason workouts, and that was acclimating newcomers such as wide receivers Danny Amendola and Albert Wilson, center Daniel Kilgore, guard Josh Sitton, defensive end Robert Quinn and defensive tackle Akeem Spence.
One thing fans can expect to see during training camp that didn’t happen during offseason workouts is integrating rookies into starting or major contributing spots.
Players such as safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, the first-round pick from Alabama, tight end Mike Gesicki, the second-round pick from Penn State, linebacker Jerome Baker, the fourth-round pick from Ohio State, and tight end Durham Smythe, the fourth-round pick from Notre Dame, figure to all play key roles this season.
Fans attending training camp also can expect more work on the running game than Miami did in OTAs and minicamp, which weren’t open to the public. Gase thinks working on the running during game offseason workouts put players at higher risk for injury.
Running back Kenyan Drake will try to become Miami’s third 1,000-yard running back in Tannehill’s career, joining Lamar Miller (1,099 yards in 2014) and Jay Ajayi (1,272 in 2016). And local favorite Frank Gore, a likely future Hall of Fame selection as well as a University of Miami product, will be used as a complement to Drake.
Still, Miami’s offense, which returns familiar faces such as left tackle Laremy Tunsil, right tackle Ja’Wuan James, and wide receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker, is about passing.
To that end, no one knows whether Gase’s offense can mount an effective passing attack on first down, third down and in the red zone.
And, yes, once again Miami plans on strategically implementing an up-tempo offense during the season.
However, it must be noted the offense has two big holes to fill with the departures of center Mike Pouncey (Los Angeles Chargers) and wide receiver Jarvis Landry (Cleveland).
Defensively, coordinator Matt Burke must find a way to get Fitzpatrick on the field alongside fellow safeties Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald, replace defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (Los Angeles Rams) and get the most out of middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan.
Oh, yeah, Burke also must determine which of his young cornerbacks is ready to take a big step in their development.
But he can take comfort that his defensive ends, led by Cameron Wake, Quinn, Andre Branch and Charles Harris, should be able to put pressure on quarterbacks, and that veteran linebacker Kiko Alonso returns.
Overall, Gase said he thought players were able to process information more quickly than a year ago on both sides of the ball.
“I really think there has been a big difference,” he said. “We’ve thrown a lot of things at them. Guys have been able to take it from the meeting room to the practice field and execute it, play at a really good rate. That’s been a big improvement for us.”
Training camp ends Aug. 14, roughly three weeks from now.
The Dolphins open preseason Aug. 9 against Tampa Bay at Hard Rock Stadium, and open the regular season Sept. 9 against Tennessee at Hard Rock Stadium.